Conflicts
When thinking about conflict in the workplace I can not think of any personal experiences where I was involved in conflict or witnessed it. One time during my internship two senior managers got into a shouting argument over whiteboard markers that left the work area around it in an awkward silence for a while. However, I did not know if this was premeditated by personal conflict in the past, or if it was just one of the managers being frustrated that he could not find a marker to write with during a meeting with a colleague and the frustration of this happening multiple times boiled over. I think the latter was the case, where it was a one time thing and they quickly worked out the conflict as it did not happen again at all during my time working there.
When thinking about the topics discussed in the textbook about group dynamics I tried to tie them to the comedy show "The Office". However, I know that this show is a comedy and does not represent real life accurately in many cases. I even re-watched one episode in Season 2, called "Conflict Resolution" as it seemed most related to the topic.
One part of Chapter 8 reads "People are imperfect cogs in the bureaucratic machinery. They form relationships to fit individual styles and preferences, often ignoring what the organization requires." This can definitely be seen in most episodes of The Office, as many of the characters are very different from one another. This is actually where a lot of the comedy in the show comes from, as the differences in many of the characters is what brings about a lot of the funny situations, many of which involve conflict. In the episode "Conflict Resolution" it is very apparent that the workers are more interested in their own relationships and values, and act in ways that improve themselves than the company.
Another theory that is mentioned is that individuals self-descriptions are disconnected from their actions. The example given is that managers view themselves as more rational, democratic, and concerned for others than their colleagues see them. In the episode, one of the reason all of the forgotten complaints come back up is because the manager thinks he can solve everyone's problems, and so he spends the day trying to solve all of the ridiculous conflicts. Instead, he ends up bringing up past conflicts between workers, and very little work is done throughout the office. Instead everyone is feeling bad and keeps to themselves and nobody is productive, and none of the conflicts are resolved well. The manager was also boosted by the fact that none of the complaints were about him, however the HR rep kept all the complaints about him in a separate, much larger folder.
In the textbook it mentions how important groups are in the workplace. In the episode, it is mainly workers int the same group that have conflicts with one another and this contributes to the limited work that is done in the episode. For example, two of the sales people have conflicts, as well as two of the accountants. Also, two members of a "party-planning" work group have a conflict. Although this is not a very important group in the office in the real world, the group ends up fighting in the episode and it is an example of how groups can break down and become unproductive is these types of situations.
When thinking about the topics discussed in the textbook about group dynamics I tried to tie them to the comedy show "The Office". However, I know that this show is a comedy and does not represent real life accurately in many cases. I even re-watched one episode in Season 2, called "Conflict Resolution" as it seemed most related to the topic.
One part of Chapter 8 reads "People are imperfect cogs in the bureaucratic machinery. They form relationships to fit individual styles and preferences, often ignoring what the organization requires." This can definitely be seen in most episodes of The Office, as many of the characters are very different from one another. This is actually where a lot of the comedy in the show comes from, as the differences in many of the characters is what brings about a lot of the funny situations, many of which involve conflict. In the episode "Conflict Resolution" it is very apparent that the workers are more interested in their own relationships and values, and act in ways that improve themselves than the company.
Another theory that is mentioned is that individuals self-descriptions are disconnected from their actions. The example given is that managers view themselves as more rational, democratic, and concerned for others than their colleagues see them. In the episode, one of the reason all of the forgotten complaints come back up is because the manager thinks he can solve everyone's problems, and so he spends the day trying to solve all of the ridiculous conflicts. Instead, he ends up bringing up past conflicts between workers, and very little work is done throughout the office. Instead everyone is feeling bad and keeps to themselves and nobody is productive, and none of the conflicts are resolved well. The manager was also boosted by the fact that none of the complaints were about him, however the HR rep kept all the complaints about him in a separate, much larger folder.
In the textbook it mentions how important groups are in the workplace. In the episode, it is mainly workers int the same group that have conflicts with one another and this contributes to the limited work that is done in the episode. For example, two of the sales people have conflicts, as well as two of the accountants. Also, two members of a "party-planning" work group have a conflict. Although this is not a very important group in the office in the real world, the group ends up fighting in the episode and it is an example of how groups can break down and become unproductive is these types of situations.
Let me pick up on one thing you said - people are very different from one another. Normally, diversity in perspective is viewed as a good thing because it means that when everyone contributes the product will have produced some synthesis of views, and that should be more robust to the demands of the market. However, perhaps you mean something else, that there are no norms in the office that everyone adheres to. Some norms of what counts for good behavior are definitely necessary. Absent that, it is hard or the organization to be effective. Our class has substantial diversity, but we also have a way of doing things that students adhere to. It isn't perfect, but it does allow us to function, most of the time without conflict.
ReplyDeleteI agree that a diversity of perspectives actually increases production and creativity. In the show however, the people have many different views on how people should act, values, what the norms should be, etc. and these differences tend to lead the workers to clash, usually humorously for the sake of the show. When people have differing values like this and also do not respect other people's values (my way is right, and ill let you know that) then this is when productivity can lessen.
DeleteI also feel that "Conflict Resolution" is a good example for this topic. I liked how you related it to Chapter 8. I feel I could have done a better job on that aspect in my post.
ReplyDeleteYou mention that people describe themselves differently than how they act. I think that Micheal Scott, the boss in the office, is a textbook example of this. His entire character and most of the humor from him is based on this.
ReplyDelete